Wheel construction



Sept. 19,1939, uLmsm 2,173,131

WHEEL CONS'IRUCTION 'Filed t-11 1, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1939.

B. ULINSKI WHEEL cons'mucnon Filed April 1, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR' N'FTO'RNEY Sept. 19, 1939. a. ULINSKI mum, consmuc'rrou.

Filed April 1, 19:55

3 Sheets-Sheet 3' INVENTOR BY w,

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED, STATES.

' PATEN'IV,OFFI,CE

WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Bronislaus Ulinskl, Chicago, m., .assignor to The Yale & Towne Manufacturingv Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 1, 1936, Serial No. 72,110

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a wheel mounting especially adapted for industrial. trucks. More particularly, the invention relates to the mountl" wheels. The wheels are of very small diameter,

because they are adapted to test under the load supporting platform, or under the main frame,

the platform or mainframe being required in industrial trucks to lie as close to the terrain l traversed by "the truck as is possible.

It will be readily realized that the providing or mounting means for such wheels, including bearlugs for the easy steering of the wheels about a king pin, plus bearings about which the wheels may rotate, plus the extensive steering required for trucks used in the narrow aisles encountered in factories, presents quite a considerable number of problems. All of these problems. and

many others, have been effectively solved by my invention.

I believe that it will probably be helpful, before describing in detail the construction of my wheel mounting assembly, to discuss generally the con-' struction and operation thereo I have found that it is advisable to use a center king pin construction in mounting the steering and load wheels of an industrial truck assembly. By mounting the steering wheels for rotation about a center king pin, I eliminate all direct radial loads on the king pin about which the-steeringf'wheel rotates, and it becomes necessary for me to provide means-gor absorbing' only suchincidentii radial loads iill'fjmay occur. Thrust loads are transferred directl through the load axle to 40 a thrust bearing m ted about the king pin axis. Because it is necessary for me to design means to overco direct radial loads. I am able to eliminate certain constructions, thereof the wheels, while using exceedingly small diameter steering wheels. I

As a feature of my design, I employ a stub axle somewhat elliptical'in shape, with the long axis of the ellipse vertical so that..a sleeve-dike wheel supporting member mountd for rotation.

about a king. pin carried by the axle, may have relatively great movement about the king pin for extensive steering. 'Also, I am able'throug'fi my design, as will be explained hereinafter, to terminate my axle just slightly beyond the point fore, to provide for a greaterv extent (ii -steering (oi. alto-96.3

e where the king pin is mounted in the axle. This feature contributes also to the extension of the steering.

As I have already indicated, there is a sleevelike wheel supporting member mounted for steer- I 5 ing rotation about the king pin. This sleeve-like member has a lower cup-like thrust bearing supporting portion mounted on a horizontal chord of the inner circle outlined by the sleeve. Above this cup-like portion, there is an opening in the i0 sleeve in which a bushing for the king pin is mounted.

On the outer periphery of the sleeve, I support the inner bearing races and the wheel supporting bearings, and these races are preferably 1 adapted for adjustment by anend plate carried by the end surface of the sleeve and adjustable relatively to the end surface of the sleeve through mans of shims. In this way, I facilitate greatly the adjustment of the bearing means. $0

In order to cut down the size of the wheels, I have devised a combination tire supporting rim and outer bearing race. Thus, I form the outer bearing race for the bearings previously described, so that it itself will support the regula- 25 tlon tire bandon which the usual hard tire used in this industryis mounted. This is a rather novel contribution to the industrial truck art, and it permits for the cutting down of the wheel to a size not normally possible. At the same 30 time, by particularly shaping my combination rim and outer bearing race, I form it of such strength that it will not be readily deformed because of its direct supporting of the tire ban and tire.

In the industrial truck industry, most trucks are manufactured to meet particular material handling problems. Therefore, various steerin arrangementsare required, and-various steering I assemblies are necessary. In order to facilitate 40 He may, at will, unite the single type of steering 50 wheel assembly with any one of the different types of arms he. has on hand, and thus obtain a particular steering assembly which may be required.

While I have indicated thus generally the various salient features of my invention, there are 55 .myself entitled to rather broad claims covering the invention in such scope as to prevent the substantial adoption of my contribution to the art by others.

I shall now refer to the drawings wherein I show a preferred embodiment of my invention.-

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view looking down on a usual type of industrial truck. Fig. 2 is aside view of -the industrial truck shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view looking down on the steering and load supporting wheel assembly of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical cross section through one of the wheel assemblies of Fig. 3. Fig. 5

' is a cross-section of Fig. 4 taken along lines 5-5.

tion |9a of the king pin.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sleeve-like wheel supporting member. .Fig. '7 is a perspective view of my kingpin. view of a wedging ring. Fig; 9 is a perspective view of the combination tire supportingmember and outer race. Fig. 10, is a view of the outer wedging ring, while Fig. 11 is a perspective view O the pin which holds the king pin in the axle.

Referring now more particularly to the draw ings, reference numeral In in Fig. 1 designates a Fig. 8 is a perspective usual type of industrial truck having a horizontally extending main frame supporting a load platform |2 which is preferably of a type adapted to be elevated relatively to the main frame. It is, readily seen that the platform is adapted to occupy a relatively low position, and that therefore theload supporting and steering wheels l3 which are mounted under the platform |2 must be of relatively small diameter. These wheels are adapted to be steered by a rod |4 shown in Fig. 1 which, through a series of'connections, is manipulated by a handle mounted for easy actuation by the operator. The various parts so far described arewell known and are found in practically all industrial trucks. They are set forth here and are shown merely to present a background for the detailed description of my invention which follows.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4-11,

inclusive, the loadsupporting axle of my truck is designated by reference numeral IS in Fig. 4, and has a stub axle portion ll of substantially elliptical shape, as shown in Fig. 5. The axle is bored out at |8 for the insertion of a king pin l9, illustrated in Fig. 7. The king pin I9 is held, in the ment, by a holding pin- 20, illustrated in Fig. 11. The holding pin has a mutilated are shaped portion 2| cooperable with a mutilated flat. milled portion |9a on the king pin l9, whereby'it is adapted to lock the king pin IS! in position when the nut 22 of the screw threaded portion 23 of the holding pin 20 is tightened, so as to move the holding pin 20 horizontally and to force its mutilated portion 2| against the mutilated fiat por- A wheel supporting sleeve-like member 24 shown in Fig. 6 is mounted for rotation about the king pin l9. Formed on the inner circle defined by the sleeve-like member 24, and on a chord of said circle, is a hollow cup-like portion 25 adapted to support a thrust bearing 26 on the axis of the king pin I9 for absorbing the thrust loads on the stub axle H, as is best shown in. Fig. 4. In this way, sleeve-like member 24 4 bore l8 against rotation, and against other movethe thrust loads are imparted to the and its bearing 26 directly,

.bushing 28 king pin I9 is mounted. Gaskets 29 and 30a lie.v

from the axle l1; Below the cup-like portion25 there is an opening 25a through which the king pin may be contacted when it is desired to remove it. A cover 26a is provided for the thrust bearing 26 and protects the bearing, as will be readily appreciated. The sleeve is bored out as at 21 above the cup-like-portion 25 to accommodate a in which the upper portion of the between the under surface of the bushing-28 am.

a flattened upper surface of the stub axle Circular bearing races 30 and 3| are mounted on the outer periphery of the sleeve 24, and these races are preferably tapered for supporting roller bearings 32. Naturally, ball bearings or other types of bearings could readily be used if desired. Cooperating with the roller bearings 32 is an outer bearing race 33 shown in perspective in Fig. 9. This outer race has tapered surfaces 34 for cooperation with the roller bearings 32, and has a central lug portion 35 adapted to 'lie between the races 30 and 3|.- The portion 35 adds to the strength of the bearing race 33, which bearing race is adapted, to function also as a tire supporting member or rim.

A metal tire band 36 of the type carrying a hard tire, and generally sold to the industrial truck industry, is on to the outer periphery of the member or rim 33, as is best shown in Fig.,4'. It is thus readily seen that the member 33 is really a combined tire adapted to be pressed or forced carrying rim and an outer b'earing race and serves therefore to cut down considerably the size of the wheel without anysacrifice in the strength of the wheel. It will also be observed that the central portion of the member 33 is directly over the king pin l3, and that the tire is mounted so that its steering so that in the regular travel of the truck, there are no radial thrusts on the king pin l9.

. The tire band 36 is adapted to extend beyond the supporting member 33 at both sides thereof. To reinforce the tire band at its inner side, there is forced into engagement therewith a ring 31, shown in Fig. 8, which ring is separated from a stepped portion 38 of the sleeve-like member 24 by a gasket 33-. At its outer side, the tire band 36 is reinforced by a ring 40, which-ring in turn is screw threaded at 4| for supporting a threaded reinforcing cover plate 42 equipped with a lubrication member 43, whereby lubricating material may be entered into the assembly. The cover plate is preferably locked against release rotation on threads 4| bya locking lug 42a held on cover plate 42 by a bolt 42b and resting in a slot 40a in ring 4|.

For adjusting the roller bearings 32 through races 30 and 3|, I utilize an adjusting plate 44 which also acts as an inner cover. It is supported by a series of three bolts 45, and through shims 46, relatively to the end surface 41 of the sleeve 24, which end surface is equipped with a series of lugs 48, each screw threaded at 49 for the bolts 45. It is quite obvious that by placing more or less shims between the adjusting plate 44 and the end surface 41 of the sleeve 24, it ispossible to move the bearing races and to adjust them as may be required.

As was also previously indicated generally, it is desirable to obtain in the truck-industry a large number of available steering assemblies, whileusing but a single typeof steering wheel. I am able to obtain this result by providing my sleeve member 24 with a pair of lugs'50 and 5|, screw noted that the arm 55 does not have this extension 56.

Thus, even in the simple illustration which I have presented to describe my invention, it is quite easily seen that by this particular feature, I am able to obtain both a right and a left steering assembly, as illustrated in Fig. 3, while using but one type of sleeve member 24. It is only the steering arms which are of different form. I be- 7 lieve that the operation of my invention will now a wheel be quite clear to those skilled in the art, and that further details will be found unnecessary.

I new claim: t

1. In a wheel assembly of the class described, supporting member, an inner'bearing race of a wheel supporting bearing mounted thereon, bearings on said race, a tire carrying. rim having an inner surface formed as an outer bearing race and mounted on said bearings, a

tire supporting band forced on said rim and extending beyond the edge of said rim, a ring forced against the inner band, and a cover by said ring.

surface of the extending tire plate for the assembly carried 2. In a wheel assembly of theclass described, I

a sleeve-like wheel bearing race of mounted thereon, said bearing race having a portion extending beyond the outer end surface of said sleeve, a circular bearing adJusting plate carried by said sleeve and fitted against said outer extending bearing portion, and screw threaded means and shims between the outer. end sursupporting member, an inner face of said sleeve and lid plate for securing said plate in a particular bearing adjusting position.

3. In a wheel assembly of the class described, a sleeve-like wheel supporting member, a pair of oppositely tapered inner bearing races of tapered wheel supporting bearings mounted on the outer periphery of said sleeve, a shoulder nearthe inner end of the sleeve against which the inner. one of said bearing races rests, the outer'one of 7 said bearing races having a portion extending beyond the outer end surface of said sleeve, bear-- ing means on said races, a single outer bearing race cooperable with the bearing means of both "said races, a circular bearing adjusting plate fitted against said outer extending race portion, and screw threaded means and shims between the outer end surface of said sleeve and said plate for securing said plate in a particular bearing adjusting position.

4. In a wheel assembly of the class described, a sleeve-like wheel supporting member, a king Din, means whereby said member rotates about said king pin, a pair of inner bearing races of a wheel bearing mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve, one at each to position the king pin in the center of the wheel to be supported on said bearings, a single outer "race cooperable with bearings carried by said pair. "of races and having a central shouldered portion lying between said pair of bearing races, a tire flpp0 flng band wedged directly on the outer 54 has an extending arm plate in screw "ring.

- 5. In a wheel assembly of the class described,

a wheel supporting bearing said king pin, a pair of inner ing the said bearings by varying the side of the king pin so as side of said race, a stepped portion of said sleevelike member extending into juxtaposed relation to the outwardly ex ending band portion at the inner side of the tire, a ring and a gasket between said band and said stepped portion, a second ring forced against the inner surface of the tire band on the outer side of the tire, and a cover threaded relation to said second a sleeve-like wheel supporting member, bearings mounted on said member, a relatively narrow tire supporting rim rotatable on said bearings, a relativelywid'e tire supporting band on said rim and extending laterally from said rim, a ring forced against the inner surface of said laterally extending tire band, and a circular plate secured to the outer edge of said ring.

6. In a wheel assembly of the class described, a sleeve-like wheel supporting member, bearings mounted on said member, a relatively narrow tire supporting rim rotatable on said bearings, a relatively wide tiresupporting band fitted onsaid rim and extending laterally from said rim at each'side thereof, and a reinforcing ring for each said pair of races and having a central shouldered portion lying between said pair of bearing races, and a tire supporting band wedged directly on the outer bearing race.

8. In awheel assembly of the class described,

bearing race "and extending outwardly on each member rotates about a sleeve-like wheel supporting member, a king pin, means whereby said member rotates about bearing races of a wheel bearing mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve, one at each side of the king pin so as to position the king pin in the center of the wheel to be supported on said bearings, a single outer race cooperable with bearings carried by said pair of races and having a central shouldered portion lying between said pair of bearing'races,

a circular bearingadjusting plate carried by the end of said sleeve and fitted against the outer one of 'said pair of races, and screw threaded means between said plate and sleeve for adjustposition of said plate relatively to said sleeve.

9. In. awheel assembly of the class described, a sleeve-like wheel-supporting member, a king pin, means whereby said 'member rotates about said bearing mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve,. one at each side of the king pin so as to position the king pin in the, center to be'supported on said bearings. a single outer race cooperable with bearings carried by said pair ofraces, and a tire supporting band wedged directly on the outer bearing race.

BRONISLAUS ULINSKI.

- king pin, a pair of inner bearing racesof a wheel of the wheel 

